Late-night drinkers have been warned to not urinate into Bristol waterways after safety campaigners said it was a risk factor that may have played a part in recent deaths.

Members of the Royal Lifesaving Society fear that one or more of the men who died in the water may have gone to the edge of the docks to urinate before they died.

The national drowning prevention charity, which has stepped up its presence in Bristol following the deaths, also urged drinkers to avoid walking near the water alone.

Mike Dunn, who is the deputy director of education and research at RLSS UK, said: “Anecdotally, there is some belief that this [urinating] is one of the causes leading up to drowning after drinking alcohol near water.

Police divers pictured searching the River Avon (Image: Jon kent)

“Other causes can be walking home along water after a night out and not sticking with your friends.

“RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign looks at educating drinkers of the dangers of drinking around or in water and is continually researching causes contributing to these tragic losses of life.”

A police spokesman told the Bristol Post that their position remained unchanged since a statement was released in response to the speculation in March, saying: “There is nothing to suggest that any of the deaths are linked or suspicious. They appear to have been tragic accidents.

RLSS UK volunteers have joined customers on a night-out at Thekla to warn them of the dangers of walking near the harbour

"We are always willing to receive new information and intelligence, which is not based on speculation.

"We are continuing to work with the coroner on the incidents which are being treated as non-suspicious sudden deaths."